Yao Ming, the Rockets' 7-foot-6-inch center, looms large in China as the No. 1 ambassador of the world's most populous nation

It doesn't get any bigger than this

October 17, 2004|By Fran Blinebury, Houston Chronicle.

SHANGHAI — The Oriental Pearl TV Tower rises like a giant Christmas tree ornament or some otherworldly object straight off the set of Star Trek to a height of 1,535 feet on the east side of the Huangpu River.

Yao Ming is bigger.

A few blocks away, the Jin Mao Tower is home to the Grand Hyatt, the world's loftiest hotel, which sits among the clouds between the 54th and 88th floors.

Yao Ming is bigger.

Of course, the Houston Rockets' center officially tops out at 7 feet 6 inches. But there are ways besides using a measuring tape to determine stature.

Consider that when the Chinese government wanted a celebrity figure to promote Shanghai in its advertising campaign for the World Expo of 2010, it chose Yao Ming.

Consider that when it was time to christen the world's longest steel-arch span, Yao Ming cut the ribbon and was the first to walk across the Lu Pu Bridge.

Consider that Yao Ming was the highest-profile carrier of the Olympic torch as it made its way through China en route to Athens in August and then was chosen as the flag bearer to represent his country to the world.

"He is the 21st-Century symbol of China to the world," said Cheong Sau Ching, head of media relations for NBA Asia.

A ferocious competitor yet a perfect gentleman. The new breed of Chinese dragon who has been sent out into the world to represent the most populous nation on the planet.

It is long past the day when Xu Jicheng, the popular proponent of basketball in China known as Big Xu, first spied a teenage Yao riding up to a camp for young players on his bicycle.

"He was wearing a white shirt, and as he came pedaling toward me, so big and looking so peaceful and sure of himself, I thought of a sailboat gliding out on the river," Xu said.

"When I first saw him play, I could not have imagined all that would happen, how far he would go. But a few years later, it became clear. This would be the special one."

Just how special was clear Thursday when Yao returned to his hometown to play for the first time as a member of the Rockets against the Sacramento Kings. Yao had 14 points and seven rebounds--drawing chants of "Yao Ming! Yao Ming!" from the capacity crowd--in the Rockets' 88-86 victory.

Yao is as much a symbol of an evolving Shanghai and China as the flock of construction cranes that are constantly erecting new skyscrapers and high-rise apartment buildings in this frantic, electric city with a metropolitan-area population of more than 16 million.

If his mother, Fang Feng Di, and his father, Yao Zhi Yuan--both former basketball players--weren't restricted by the government policy of just one child per family, it's conceivable they could have put a starting five into the NBA. Yet their lone child has already had a considerable reach with his play on the court and his demeanor away from it.

"Yao Ming is the giant who will look you in the eyes," Big Xu said. "Most big men in the game look over your head. But he connects. He doesn't just answer questions; he asks questions too."

How big is Yao Ming?

The official sale of tickets for the two China games--the second is Sunday in Beijing--had Chinese fans willing to camp out in the streets for the privilege of paying more than $100 face value. Those tickets are now being resold before the game for as much as 5,000 yuan (roughly $625) apiece.

It is, in a way, validation. The Chinese have been reluctant to proclaim any of their own players as worthy of the same praise showered upon Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan.

Yao's image is on huge billboards scattered throughout distant neighborhoods. When arriving international passengers at Capital Airport in Beijing first step outside the terminal, they come face-to-face with a smiling Yao pitching mobile phone service. Life-size cutouts of Yao stand outside pubs and nightclubs.

"I don't ever drink beer during the season," Yao said. "That makes me look like I am in every bar."

Or just constantly on everyone's mind.

Turn on one of the state-run television channels--CCTV--in the major cities, and you're likely to see a grinning Yao dressed up in different scenes as a waiter, a chef, a bartender, a bus driver. It's a tourism campaign with the theme: "One Shanghai, thousands of Yaos."